Two epic love stories. One impossible choice. The stunning new novel from Paige Toon.

Six summers ago

Liv and Finn meet working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family – so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

This summer

Liv crosses paths with Tom – a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every year.

Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .

My Thoughts:

You literally cannot go wrong with a Paige Toon story, they always pull me in and I always am sad when I get to the end page. This story alternates between the past and the present and we see Liv when she was younger and with her whole life ahead of her and what she has planned for it to the present and what actually did happen. It is a epic love story full of life’s bumps in the road, how can a book be one minute full of lust and then the next minute full of dread. I felt as though I was on one hell of a ride but I did not want to make the mistake of getting off. It was a truly wonderful read, I always think can Paige top her last book and she always does.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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You can choose your home, but you can’t choose who lives next door . . .

Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, especially not in crumbling Shelley House. The other residents think she’s prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past and looking for somewhere to belong.

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House for longer than anyone else, and if you believe the other tenants, she’s as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Dorothy may spend her days spying on the neighbours, but she has a closely guarded secret herself – and a good reason for barely leaving her home.

When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home; and even less likely detectives when they suspect that foul play is coming from within Shelley House . . .

My Thoughts:

This is a story about the residents of Shelley House and how they all live their lives under one roof but they are all very different. However when needs must they pull together and show they are a tight knit community. The residents are true life characters that people will be able to relate too. I did not have a favourite person, my favourite was Reggie the dog, he was such a funny little dog. It is a warm hearted but sad story about how one lady wants to fight her demons but needs the other residents to help her get through it. I have never read any of Freya’s books before but this is one of my new favourite authors from now on. It was an easy read to relax with.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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What if your soulmate could only ever be the love of your afterlife?

The first time Emery’s heart stops, she is only five years old…

Emery is born with a heart condition that means her heart could quite literally stop at any moment. The people around her know what to do – if they act quickly enough there will be no lasting damage, and Emery’s heart can be restarted. But when this happens, she is briefly technically dead.

Each time Emery’s heart stops, she meets Nick. His purpose is to help people adjust to the fact that they are dead, to help them say goodbye, before they move on entirely. He does not usually meet people more than once – but with Emery, he is able to make a connection, and he finds himself drawn to her.

As Emery’s life progresses, and she goes through ups and downs, she finds that a part of her is longing for those moments when her heart will stop – so that she can see Nick again.

This is the story of two fated lovers who long for each other, but are destined never to share more than a few fleeting moments – because if they were to be together, it would mean the end of Emery’s life.

My Thoughts:

Emery is born with a heart problem which means her heart could stop at any given minute. Thankfully everyone around her knows what to do so that they can restart her heart for her if they are quick. When she is in this state she meets Nick and he helps people to understand that they are dead. But Emery starts to have feelings towards him and as she gets older she wants to see more of him but can they be together? It was a very interesting idea for a story that worked really well, I felt as though I went on a emotional rollercoaster and found it so moving. It is one of those stories that will stay with me forever. I laughed, I cried and I felt uplifted. Have those tissues at the ready. Another fantastic read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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A powerful family. A luxury cruise. A killer on board.

You’re invited to join the infamous Scarmardo family on a five night voyage aboard their glamorous new ship. It’s a chance to see your best friend, Belle, newly married to Mattia Scarmardo. You haven’t seen her in years.

FIVE
On the first night, you’ll be wrapped up in the glamour of the ship.

FOUR
On the second night, you’ll wonder who is sending you threatening notes.

THREE
On the third night, someone will die.

TWO
On the fourth night, you’ll discover that someone knows the truth of what you did.

ONE
On the last night, you’ll be left for dead.

WILL YOU MAKE IT BACK TO SHORE ALIVE?

My Thoughts:

This is a story of money and power and these people will go to great lengths to get what they want and when they want. It is set on a luxury cruise invite only from the Scarmado family. You will be pleased at first that you have been invited but when things start to go wrong who do you trust now? it is not all plain sailing so to speak. It was a slow burner but I felt with this story that was good as there was a number of characters that I was trying to get my head around and it meant that I was uncovering the story slower than I usually would. There are a few twists along the way but I would never of expected the outcome the story finished with. It was a story that held my concentration the whole way through but when I came to the end, I was sad it had finished. This is an author I need to keep on my radar.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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It’s time we celebrated women in adventure

What does “toughness” mean to you? Perhaps it’s being physically fit and mentally resilient. Perhaps it’s doing something no one else has done before. Perhaps it’s breaking down boundaries and proving what you can do, in spite of the naysayers. Perhaps it’s travelling alone, immersing yourself in new cultures and meeting new people. Perhaps it’s running ultramarathons in the blistering heat and beating the competition. Perhaps it’s conquering your fears.

The badass adventurers in this collection are all fearless, intelligent, compassionate and curious about the world – and they all happen to be female. From endurance obstacle races to arctic expeditions, from mountain climbing to wingsuit flying, from horse trekking to swimming the English Channel, they have set the bar high for what women are capable of. Let yourself be inspired by their stories of grit, courage, determination, triumph and heartbreak – you never know, it might lead to something incredible!

My Thoughts:

What an incredible book with some very inspiring women in it. This is a great read for the adventure type, I could not believe what some of these incredible women got themselves involved doing. It blew my mind what you can achieve if you just put your mind to it. The determination and stamina that each story brings is unremarkable and these women are all my heroes, they are fantastic all in their very own way. I was so inspired by them all. You can really feel the determination and courage that they all bring to this awe inspiring and special read. You go Girls!

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Naples 1943
Luisa Giordano has faced many losses: her mother to a deadly illness, the man she loved to the Nazis when war came to Italy, and her unborn child at the hands of her own husband. All Luisa has left is her voice, and when she learns her husband is colluding with the enemy, she knows she must use it to fuel the women of Naples with fire.

Los Angeles 1962
Hollywood starlet Lola Hart has come a long way from the backstreets of Naples, the glamorous parties a way to dull the pain of the past. When she is offered the role of a lifetime portraying a heroine of the Italian resistance, she knows returning home means confronting old ghosts. But as she seeks out the story behind the film, she realises there are many in Naples with secrets, and that the woman she is to play held the greatest one of all…

My Thoughts:

The book is set in two different two eras and in two different countries. Luisa lives in Naples and feels like giving up, the people that she loved have died and she sees no way out of this terrible time. The war is on and she feels like the only way to come to terms with everything is do something for all the women that live in Naples to make herself be heard. In the other part of the story we see Lola who lives and breathes Hollywood and is an actress, she cannot believe when she is given a part that involves a women from Naples and what this women went through. It was a cleverly put together story about two women and how their lives intertwine. Lola is playing the part of Luisa and it was a really interesting concept seeing Luisa’s story from another pair of eyes. It was emotional but engaging story.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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The story of F1’s world dominance is one of near-constant transformation and experimentation. This is a sport where the only way to win championships is to land a series of technical moon shots – and then do it all over again. With fast cars, big money, beautiful people, and glamorous locations from Monaco to Melbourne, The Formula tells the full, epic story of the sport. Starting in 1950s Britain, where six years of wartime engineering laid the foundations for a new type of motorcar racing; to the first global star partnership of Senna and Ecclestone; Spygate; Crashgate and its transition into an entertainment juggernaut. Bringing unique insight and access to F1’s most storied teams and personalities – from Ferrari to Lewis Hamilton to Christian Horner and Daniel Ricciardo –The Formula offers a riveting portrait of the drivers, corporations, cars, rivalries, and audacious gambles that have shaped the sport for half a century.

The end result is a high-octane history of how modern F1 racing came to be – the first book to tell the story of the outrageous successes and spectacular crashes that led F1 to this extraordinary yet precarious moment. More than just a sports story, it is the tale of a commercial empire, one built in the 20th century, rendered almost obsolete in the early 21st, and re-emerged world-dominant today; a disrupter that claimed its place in the crowded sports marketplace through cash, personality, and a new understanding of what a sport needs to be in the age of wall-to-wall entertainment.

My Thoughts:

I love watching the F1 on the TV so I was intrigued when this book popped up. I did honestly think it would be heavy going but I was surprised to find it read like a story, which has had so much well thought out research gone into it that I was astounded by the amount I did not know and now know. It is a serious story that needed to be told about how F1 is evolving and everything else in between. This is perfect for F1 fans and a really interesting read that I will be recommending all the time.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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The shadow of war looms large over the rural English village of Eagley as Freddie the postboy is tasked with delivering news from the battlefields of France. They call him the angel of death.

Freddie is befriended by Suhani Harkness, an Indian woman living in an isolated manor house where she tends to wounded soldiers from the trenches. Persuading Freddie to become the scribe to a soldier who cannot write, he finds new purpose in his work.

But the grim reality of his job weighs down ever more heavily, until the telegram he has most feared arrives from the front – news of the death of one of Suhani’s sons.

Set against the backdrop of one of the deadliest conflicts in history, this novel is a poignant and powerful exploration of the human cost of war for those left behind, and the enduring impact of grief and guilt.

My Thoughts:

Freddie is a postboy in 1916 and he is the one to deliver news from the Battlefields where many men are serving in the War. When he meets Suhani on one of his rounds he realises she is living alone, but she is a worker and she looks after the soldiers who have been injured. His job becomes increasingly difficult as he has to give a telegram to someone who means a lot to him. It is the most unbearable thing he has to do but it is his job after all. I thought the plot sounded unique and something I felt as though I didn’t know much about before reading this book. It is a thought provoker as it makes you think what it was like in those days. It is a well put together and researched story that I will remember for a long time.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Bake the best classic and modern cakes

• Supported by the National Trust, suppliers of fine cakes to the British public
• 55 essential classic and modern cake recipes plus expert tips and techniques
• Little bits of interesting and quirky cake history

Packed with practical advice for baking the perfect cake every time, this beautifully illustrated book of tried-and-tested recipes includes all the classics – Coffee and Walnut Cake, Spiced Carrot Cake, Double Chocolate Brownies – as well as some new and exciting recipes to inspire and impress: Fresh Apricot, Saffron and Honey Cake; Sea Salt Caramel Sponge; Blood Orange Poppyseed Cake. Featuring loaf cakes, sponge cakes, small cakes and fruit cakes – with a side serving of cake-related history to go – these easy-to-follow recipes will appeal to anyone who enjoys a delicious homemade cake.

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to discover a whole new world of cakes in this book. I have a couple of the other national Trust recipe books and use them regularly, so was excited to get my hands on the book of cakes. I like these recipe books because they look slightly vintage and most of the recipes have the added touch of a drawing so you can see what the cake will look like. I find the recipes easy to follow and like how at the front of the book there is a section about good things to know which is great for a first time baker. There are 55 delicious sounding recipes throughout this book and I cannot wait to make them all. Also I like after each heading of cake that it tells you a little bit about that kind of cake so you feel you are learning too. It is one I will cherish forever.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Collins the publisher were very kind and sent me a recipe card to make a Malty Tea Loaf which I have made and it smells wonderful, here are a few pictures from the process:

DCS Simon Serrailler has long regarded drugs ops in the Lafferton area as a waste of time. Small-time dealers are picked up outside the local secondary school, they’re given a fine or a suspended and away they go. And rinse and repeat. But when the body of a young drug addict is found in neighbouring Starly, the case pulls Simon into a whole new way of running drugs. The foot soldiers? Vulnerable local kids like Brookie and Olivia, who will give Simon a bitter taste of this new landscape.

It is a harsh winter at home as well as work. Simon’s GP sister Cat and her husband Kieron are struggling with medical dramas big and small. A trip to Bevham General on her rounds sets off alarm bells for Dr Cat, and a visit from her son Sam as he tries to work out if his midwifery course is right for him coincides with a threat to their beloved family dog. Simon is working hard, but he’s restless, wondering what next. There’s nothing new going on for him in Lafferton, but sometimes the familiar holds surprises, too . . .

My Thoughts:

This is my second book by Susan Hill and I absolutely loved it. In this Simon Serrailler Case, when DCS Simon Serrailler is called into find out what happened to a young drug addict who has died but there is more than meets the eye in this story. He has to use all his powers and knowledge to research and find out about the local drug addicts and he finds it goes way deeper than just that. More to the point also about keeping himself safe. A gripping read that I felt as though once I had started reading I didn’t want to stop, it pulls you in and the pace is quick with interesting characters. It is not straight forward as you may think. I enjoyed this read and will definitely read the other books in this series.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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